At Work - The Observer

2 Supplement to the OBSERVER • Saturday, March 24, 2012 VISION 2012
Your guide to
VISION
2012
AT WORK
PAGES 2-14
AT PLAY
PAGES 15-29
Milestones
Pages 23-26
AT HOME
PAGES 30-41
FUTURE
PAGES 42-48
VISION
2012 is published
by the
OBSERVER.
Managing
Editor
Gregory
Bacon was
in charge of
layout and
supervised
the section
while the
front page illustration was
designed by creative artist
Sarah Neumeister. For additional
copies, call 366-7700.
At work
VISION 2012
Family businesses
Lots of challenges and opportunities
By DIANE R. CHODAN
OBSERVER Staff Writer
While the word business
may conjure up an image of a
large chain store, the truth is
that small businesses are still
in the majority. It is these
businesses that make our
communities unique, or as
Patty Donovan of the Book
Nook at the D &F Plaza puts
it “not a cookie cutter community.”
Many businesses in our
area are family owned and
community oriented.
Patty and Rick Donovan
currently own and operate the
Book Nook in the D & F
Plaza. Patty’s dad, Phil
Pelletter, bought the bookstore
in 1968, and she remembers
working in the store at a
young age. As she got older,
she took more responsibility
for the business, especially
when her parents began
spending winters in Florida.
OBSERVER Photo by Diane Chodan
The Book Nook at the D&F plaza is owned by Rick and Patty Donovan. The store is community
oriented and offers personalized service.
What the Book Nook offers
is personalized service. Patty
and her staff can offer suggestions
to customers because of
their years of experience with
books. The business has regular
customers, and the staff
understand their reading
habits and can let them know
when new titles are in. The
staff takes the time with those
who are looking for gifts to
make good suggestions. Gift
wrapping is free.
Patty said, “ We can do
special orders and they only
take two days to come in. We
can even get out of print
books. Customers often come
to us for help buying children’s
books.”
Often local authors will
come in to do book signings.
She said, “One of the challenges
of running a small
business is making sure the
community understands the
importance of supporting
local businesses. The Plaza
(D&F) is a large taxpayer in
this area so we contribute to
the community. My husband
and I also volunteer in the
community. For instance, we
are selling the tickets for
Fredonia’s (High School)
musical. We offer our services
for free, and are pleased to do
it because we are part of the
community.”
Becky Hubbard and her
husband run Gabel Brothers
Furniture and Appliance at
27 West Main St. in
Gowanda. She agrees that the
community should value local
businesses.
Gabel Brothers carries a
wide variety of appliances
such as refrigerators, dishwashers,
and washing
machines. They also have a
large selection of furniture
including items for the dining
room, living room and bedroom.
The furniture and
appliances are housed in two
separate buildings. Much of
what they carry is American
made. Gabel Brothers offers
free delivery in the area, and
hooks up the appliances.
They have their own service
department and service what
they sell. Their strong point is
personalized service.
“Customers are not a num-
See FAMILY, Page 6